Top-opening filing cabinet



Jan. 6,1931. F. L. G. s'TRAUBEL 1,788,036

` TOP OPENING FILING CABINET Filed April 14- 1930 by greatlyfacilitating access to each such i seccion through a closed iilingcabinet em,-

Patented dan. 6, 1931 unirte iinnnnsioir n. s frnAnnn'n, or4 @nenn BAY,Wisconsin, Assieivonrofrrin Aurorreric riLn @e inner:k co., oren-nenBay, Wisconsin, a coaronnfrroiv or Wis- CONSIN Application` mea April14,

' My invention relates to top-opening filing cabinets,y and in itsgeneral objects aims to v providea cabinet in which the opening of thecover simultaneously moves the cover to a 5 position permitting freedownward access to the contents of the cabinet, and tilts the front ofthe cover ofthe cabinet forwardly to ex# pand the effective upwardopening of the cabinet..

10 In't'he class of `cabinets usedfor filingl 20 portionican be'ltilterdto permit a separation of the upper portions ofthe letters,` there'-section Aof the cabinet@r` l p llVhere a cabinet is of a singledeclrheiglit,

' 5 as distinguished from so-called three-drawer or four-drawer height,thisis not feasible, since theweightofxthe extended slide in'a full oreven ina partly filled kdrawer will overbalance the weight 'of the cas-3i) ingy of .the cabinet, so as to tilt or even upset the entirecabinet. Moreover,"the needed Slide arrangement,- including the rollersand'extension slide portions. usual-- by interfering greatly'with theeifectivense of such single tier cabinets.

'y My present; invention aims A.to yovercome these objections byprovidingfa Ysingleftier cabinet requiring iiof slide or otherv movablesupport for the filecontents,ainisgtofprovidep novel means forsupportingthe movable cover of the cabinet and for swinging this covereffectively out ofthe way whenraisech'and aims to provide'simple meanswhereby the Tor-orniiino rrniive 'Ciminna' 193e.A serial no. 444,119.

lraising ofthe cover also'tilts the front of the cabinet forwardly. l

lrloreover, my invention :aims to provide meaiiscconnecting the movablecover with the movable front wherebya return ofthe cover to its normalposition .will simultaneously return the front toits normal position,and for this purpose aims to provide connecting means so arranged thatvrearward pressure on the cabinet front when in its forwardly tiltedposition will not efecta closing'of the cover. y i

Furthermore, my invention aims to provide a simple, compact andinexpensive cabinetconstruction y for these purposes and one 1 which canreadily be employed in an all-metal (and'h'eiic'e fireproof)cabinet.

Still further and also more detailed'ob-- jects will appear from thefollowing specifi-` cation and from theaccompanying drawings, inlwhich Li Fi l is a 'central,"vertical and longitudinal Vtaken alongtheline eL-3of Fig; `l but drawn ll? l is a perspective v'iewof the cabinet,

drawn onl a reduced scale.

In the illustrated embodiment, the main` andistationaryportion of mycabinet includesy a bottoml rigidly secured (as by welding)-` toyaba-cl; 2"' and sides 3. The front of this stationary cabinet portion isnormally closed kby afronta which connectedfat its lower lend byhingesto the bottom 1, so that thisv i -fron'tfc'an be tilted forwardvabout horizon# tal axis en -tending .transverse of the cabinet.

:Extending rearwardly from the front 4f at its opposite side edgesv arewings 6,- each of' Whichwings ,pivotally connected ata con osiderabledistance `above the anis of the hinges 'Sito the forward end'of a'linlr'' which has its rear end pivotally connected to the freev`end of an ariiiSaofra bell-crank lever. This lever ACi ispivotedadjacent to the juncture of its arms Y I' er than theffirst namedarm f8, is pivoted at I its free end to the adjacent side portion `12 ofthe'hereafter'described cover. j Y Y Normally closing the mouth of thestationary cabinet portion 1s a cover comprising as a rigid assembly acover top 11, cover side portions 12, a frontal cover end 13 and a rear`cover end 14, all four of which cover por-A,

tions may'have: their lower edges seated o n the upper edges of the mainportion of the lcabinet and of the movable front 4.

lnsteadof being hinged to themain portion ofthe cabinet after theheretofore custernary` manner, this cover is connected to the main andupwardly opening cabinet portion only by the aforesaid two lever arms 10and by two rear links 15, which links are respectively adjacent to theopposite sides 3 of the cabinet.- Each rear'link 15 is considerablyshorter than one of the counterpart lever arms 10 and extends rearwardlydownward within the closed cabinet, the lower end of each rear linkbeing pivoted tothe adjacent `cabinet body side 3 rearwardly of thepivot pin 9 of the adj acentbellcranklever.

When the front of the cover is liftedas by raising a'knob' 16 fastenedto the-frontal cover end 13, the lever arms 10 and the linksk 15cooperateto raise the forward portion of j the'cover to a greater extentthan its rearward portion, and to swing the uppervends` of both the saidlever arms and links rearwardly beyond thepivotal connections oftheseconnecting parts lto the' cabinet body,

until Vthe swinging movement of the Ycover is halted by the engagementof the rear. links 15 with the upper edge of theback 2 of the Y body ofthe cabinet.y The links 15 and the longer leverV arms Y 10 thencooperateY (as shown rvin Fig. 2) in supportingthe cover in anapproximately upright position in which the covery partly depends behindthe cabinet body and permits free downward accessto the interior of thecabinet.

To'movethefront 4:' forwardly while the' cover isbeing swung fromthe'closure posi- 'Y tion of Fig. 1 to the opened positionof Fig. 2,*-l' connect the vfree end ofeach .depending lever arm 8 by a link 7 totheVmovable cab- ,j inet front, desirablyby providing this Afront withrearwardlyY extending kwings 6 respectivel7 adjacent t0 lille Side 0f.the Cabnetltor which ywings the forward Yends of the are respectivelypivoted.- Y Y During the swinging o f the cover from its links l closedto itssaid open position, the rocking of the Vbell-'crank levers'pabouttheir pivots9 also swings the depending lever arms8 so'as vof papers,and' toV permit an inspection of papers without 'even taking them out ofthe file. Y Y Y Vxhen the cabinet is to be closed, a forward pull on theknob lvsimultaneously rocks the upper` lever arms 10 and the rear links15 about their pivotal. connections tothe sides of the cabinet body, so`that these lever arms and short links cooperate to swing the cover backuntil it rests on the upper edge ofthe cabinet as shown in Fig. l. Sincethe just mentioned. pivotal connections are at considerabledistancesfrom the front of the cabinet, any looseness :in these connections mightprevent the cover from alining laterally with the cabinet body (orstationary portion of the cabinet) when the cover is closed. Hence Idosirably provide means adjacent to the frontY of thecabinet forinsuring this alinement, so as to exclude dust; as for example byproviding each cover side with a clip finger 17 adapted to depend along`the inner face of the corresponding body side 3 (as shown in Fig. 1)when my cabinet is closed.

I'also desirably provide a guardplate 8l adjacent to each side portion3, which guard plate has its major portion offset inwardly from thevadjacent cabinet side, y(as show-n in Fig. to provide a space-withinwhich the adjacentlinkv 7, and the lower portions of both the adjacentlever and rear link can operate, each guard plate'having anaperture 48A in an offsetting portion through which a lever arm 10 andalink 15 vfreely extend. Each guard plate then prevents the adjacentlever and links from eno'aging and damaging the content-s of thecabinet.

. In practice, the relative lengths of the lever arms and ofthe links,aswell as the locations of the Vvarious pivotal connections may bevaried considerably. Howeveng preferably i arrange these so that during`the opening of the cabinet each pivot pin 19 (which connects one ofthefront-moving links 7 to the depending arm 8 of the `associated bellcranklever) VVmovesupwardlypast the common axial plane ofthe pivot pins ,9and 18.Y 'Then when the cabinet is in its open position of V`Fig. 2, arearward pressure on tlie'hingedV vfront @will tend to swing thecoverstill further'rearward, so that this Vcover will not beslammedidown to its closure position if the user 'of the' cabinetvaccidentallyV presses Y against the hinged-front.`

y disposing the pivotal connection ofthe lower end fofleach rear linlrtoa'cabin'et side link, i

rearward of the 'pivoting of a lever tothe same side, lI permit the,lever andrear link at'each side ofthe cabinet to swing withoutYinterferingwith eachother; eand by making the forward lever arm ylongerthan the rear eect theaction which swing-s the;

cover partlyvbehind the back of the stationary cabinet and to: anapproximately vupright position upon a lifting of the frontal portion ofthe cover.

So also', by making the arm 8 (which actu-y Y ates the movement oftheifront) integral with, one of the members which connects the :overYto thestationary cabinet portion, I secure anexceedingly simple andcompact mechanism for conj ointly moving the coverjand the frontwhen'the cover is manually moved;

y However, changes might obviously be made without departing either fromthe 'spirit'of my invention or fromrthe appended claims, hence I donotwish to be limited to the details 4of the construction and arrangementabove disclosed.V A l y In vthe claims, it is to be understood thattheterm' overhangs is used in the sense of overlying or extendinghorizontally above.

I claiml as my invention :l V

l. Ina filing cabinet, a stationary member including two sides andaback; ay front piv-A otally connected at its flower end tothe saidstationary member; acover normally seated Acn upon upper portions of thestationary meinber in' a position in which it overhangs the spacebetween the said frontIl sides and back; means operatively connectingthe cover withV tliestationaryportion `to permit the cover to be swungupwardly and rearwardly with brespect to the said stationary portion,and

means associated with the aforesaid means for rockingl the frontforwardly about its v'iivotal connection to the stationary member whenthe cover is swung in the said direction.

l 2. In a filing cabinet, a stationary member includingtwo sides and aback a front piv- -otally connected at its lower end to the saidstationary member; a cover normally seated uponl upper portions of thestationary inembeil iii position in which it overhangs'the statiiipoiiupper portions of thestationary inemg` space between the saidfront, sides and back;

l i two means spaced longitudinally of the cabinet and connecting tiiecover with the ,stai` tionaryinember, whereby a'lifting of the forwardpart of the cover will swingtlie cover upwardly and rearwardly ;1 andfroi'itffactuating means interposed between the' front and one of the.aforesaid means5 whereby the swinging of the cover inthe saidvdirection rocks'the front'forwardlyf about its pivotal connection to thestationary'member of the cabinet. -K L n 3. In a filing cabinet; astationary member including two sides and a back; a front pivrotallyconnected at its lower end tothe said '.o'nary member; accover normallyVseated ber in a position in which it overliangs the spacebetween thesaid front, side'sa/iid'back;

two bell-crank levers respectively adjacentV to and pivoted to the twoysides.; eacli'bellcrank lever comprising `an upper ,arm nor-l mally.sloping upwardly Vforward lfrom the 4 pivot Maxis of the lever andconnected at'its kfree end to A*the cover, anda .lower arm nerf Y mallydepending froml the said pivot axis; and .means interposed between lthefree' end ofthe short arm of eaclilleverr and the said the frontaboutits pivotal connection tothe stationary member. i

4. In ai liling cabinet, a stationary member :including` two sides andback; a front pivotally `'connected at its lower end .to the saidstationary member; a cover; normally seated upon upper-portions of thestationary niember in a position in which it overhangs the space between.the said front, sides and back;

` two bell-,crank levers respectivelyy adjacent to and iiroted tothe twosides' each'bell-crank lever comnrisinevr an u er arin normallf L Csloping upwardly `forward' from the pivot Vaxisof the leverand connectedat its free vend to -the cover, and a. lower arm normally de pendingfrom the said" pivot axis; and two links respectively` adjacent to thesaid two sides, eachy link being pivoted at itsrear end to. the `.lowerarm of one ot` the levers and being pirovted at its forward end to thesaid yspace between the saidfront, sides and back two bell-crank leversYrespectively adjacent to Afront whereby movement of the leversrocls.V

and pivoted to the two sides; eachbell-crank Y lever coinpi'isingv anupper arm normally slopingvupwardly forward from the-pivot axis of thelever and `Conni-ieted"atitsfreeend totliecover,` and aI lower armnormally desv Vpending,fronifthe 'said pivot axis; and twol :linksrespectively adjacent to the said two`V sides andeach pivoted at itsreare'nd to the lower: arm of oneof the levers; tliefront iii:-

- cluding` two .wings extendingrearwardly respectively adjacentV to the.saidrtwo sides, each oi' theisaid links having its forward endpiviiooted to .onel ofthe wings ataconsiderable e distance above tliefpivotedVconnection of the frontto the stationary member of the cabinet.;

./In' ailing cabinet, aV stationary `,Intelli-Q ber; including uprightsides andi.. a back; a normally uprightffront hinged at its'lower end to.the stationarymember on a .horizontal axis g" a coverv normallyseated'v upon n upper portions of. thestationary member in a posi-" tionin it overhangs the spacelbetweenv i the said front, back and sides; tworear links respectively connecting,` the cover to rearward of theconnections of the aforesaid links to Vthe cover, land includinga'second arm noi'-v inally extending downward from the axis on which thelever is pivoted to a side; vand two `iront#actuating linksrespectively" con- 'necting'these'cond arms of the tivo levers to '7. Aiilingcabinet as per claim 6, in Vwhich the .front includes a rontplateand two.

wings extending rearwardly iroin the front plate and respectivelyadjacen'tto the sides of the stationary cabinet portion, towhich wingslthertwo front-actuatinglinks are re'- spectively connected.

8. A tiling cabinet as per. claim 6,in Vwhich the first named two linksare disposed for engaging the upper end of the back when the A a lessdistancefrom the back than the lengthVK of these links, wherebythese'links are adapt- 1 .ed to "extend, over'and rest upon the uppercover is swung outl or' itsjnorinal position, thereby, limitingV theextent of the saidswinging.

` i 9. A ilingi'cabinet as 'per claim 6, in which the two rear links arepivoted tothe sides near the upper edges ofthesaidV sides and at a lessdistance from the backV than the length i n n Y f latera'i Ymovement ofthe cover with respect of these links, whereby these links are adapt edto extend over and restupon the upper edge of thevback to limit theswing movement of the cover out of its normal position.Y V

l0. A iling cabinet as per cl aim 6, in which Vthe pivot axesof thelevers are lower `than 'y the pivot axes of the rear links.

11. A filing cabinet as per lclaim V6, in which the two rear links arepivoted to the 'sides nearthe upper edges of the said sides andatedge ofthe. back to limit the swing @novevnient of the, coverfoutofits normalposition,

1S. Inalingcabinet, a stationary meniber includingtwo sidesrand'a back;a front hingedly,connected at its lower end tothe stationary member; 'acover normallyk seated upon upper'portions of the stationary inein.

`andtiltsit jrearwardlyV downward, and swings the roiit'rforwardly aboutits hinged Connection to the` stationary member; Vthe said meanscomprising va lever andlink system includingtwo rear links disposed foren! gaging the back .to limit'theextent of the said swinging landtilting of the cover, two v'front- 'actuating `links 'disposed forswingingV the 7 front i'irwardly,` and two levers cooperating .with thefront-'actuating links to prevent rearward pressure oii'the v'forwardlyswung iront from moving,l the said levers, links and cover.Y

14.' A'filing cabinet as per. claim l, in which i'liecover niember'lias:sides normally seated on the upper edges of vthe sides, ofthe stationarymember, in combination with projectionson thesidesof one member forengag! ingfsid'esY of the other member to `prevent to 4the sideswh'enthe cover has its said s idesV thus seated.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, April 11th,

i930. f Y Y FREDERICK LVG. STRAUBEL. l'

l the first named 4arm oiY eachilever beingof Vsuchv alength'astodisposet-he coverv in'an Y Y approximatelyY uprightv position lwhenthese links thus rest upon theY upper edges; o rfftliev` l" 12.AAvn-tiling cabinet as jg'ierjy claim Y6,1m

Vwhich thepivot axis'of each lever/is so `dis?n posed with* respect tothe angle betwe'enits Y lever arms and the connectionjof the 'fronttothe frontiactuating link yassociated with l this lever, vthat theconnection between the vfront#actuating linkfand lever. is above a lineI connectingthepivotaxis ofthe `le'v'er'ivith the connection of thesamel link toL the cabinet front `when this front is swung forwardlytoits eXtreme extent from 'its' normalY posify tion; whereby arearwardp'ressure fonthe fiio

